Gary Jobson, the executive director of the hall of fame, said the Sailing Hall of Fame hopes to welcome visitors at its new location in the Armory building by May 2020, before the summer tourist season begins.

NEWPORT — The 26-member board of directors of the National Sailing Hall of Fame of Annapolis, Maryland, voted 17-9 Tuesday afternoon to relocate the hall of fame to the Armory building in Newport.

All board members were on a teleconference call for 1 hour and 45 minutes during which members asked questions before the vote, Gary Jobson, the hall of fame’s executive director, told The Daily News soon after the vote.

The Newport City Council approved on Aug. 8 a purchase-and-sales agreement to sell most of the Armory on lower Thames Street to the Sailing Hall of Fame.

Under the agreement, the Sailing Hall of Fame has 90 days, until Nov. 8, to undertake “due diligence” that includes reviewing liabilities such as possible asbestos, mold and other items, Jobson said.